Lincicome: The Bears are united in their excitement, at least for training camp

The obligation to be eager and earnest is part of training camp, that safe and unscarred portion of a football season where all things are possible and failures are forgotten.

Working only from the opening camp press gathering, I can conclude that the Bears are excited. They all say so.

“Everyone’s excited,” said Ryan Poles, still employed as general football factotum, and if you cannot believe the man who seems usually one antacid from relief, well, there is the new coach, practically a-bubble with anticipation.

“This is a new chapter of Chicago Bears football,” said Ben Johnson, assumed to be several chapters behind the rest of us. “A lot of excitement around the program. A lot of talent on the roster.”

Johnson is freshly ensconced in shoes once worn by other first-time Bears head coaches named Matt or Marc or Mike, only the latter of any matter. Johnson seems as cheery as Poles is sour, but time and regret will even that out.

Unprompted, Johnson used the acrobatic Air Force Thunderbirds to illustrate what he hopes to achieve in training camp. “Through the course of their training, it’s all about earning trust because it’s a dangerous job,” Johnson said. “As I think about our team, there are a lot of parallels.”

A coach as a philosopher and a visionary? This might be interesting.

For now Johnson sees a Bears team that is “rippin’ and ready to go.” When last we saw a Bears team it was celebrating a 5-12 record with a last-second 51-yard field goal against the disinterested Packers.

Much has changed since then, of course, Johnson being the most significant new trinket, a raw but well reviewed fellow whose chief value seems to be that he is unfailed, as was Eberflus before him and Nagy before him and on and on.

The only thing more certain than a disappointment at quarterback on the Bears is a misfitted coach on the Bears, although clueless ownership cannot be discounted.

And what of that prize piece of generational promise — considering Bear generations to be tallied on one mitten — the quarterback?

“I feel awesome. We’re all excited,” Caleb Williams said.

Included with that excitement is Williams’ happiness with his new coach. He even welcomes notes. Johnson sent homework with Williams, sort of summer school for the unsatisfactory.

“Footwork things,” said Johnson. “Anticipate throws. Building from the ground up.”

Excuse the mixed metaphor but we were led to believe that Williams was already the complete package, ready to be unwrapped, not needing to be built from the “ground up.”

More metaphor mixing ahead. Williams does tend to hold the football too long, leading to a league high 68 sacks (a team record) looking to hit a home run rather than advancing the runner.

Williams explains. “Part of it is my footwork and that lining up with the plays. That helps accelerate the clock for me. The other part is being decisive, making a decision.

“The other part is taking what the defense gives me, not trying to find that big play every time and be the young cat wanting to get that big play. Sometimes it’s just the checkdown, the second read that may not be something more than 5 yards.”

This all sounds pretty much like Quarterbacking 101 to me. If Williams, having played the position his whole career, is just now learning about footwork and checkdowns, it may be time to rethink tomorrow.

“I have self-goals,” Williams said. “To be the first 4,000-yard passer on the Bears, (may I remind that Justin Fields had the same goal) and 70% completion rate.”

Aim high, young man. The 4,000-yard goal is reachable but only incidental to success. It has happened 117 times, six times last year.

Whereas 70% is Joe Montana territory, there were five quarterbacks there last season, including Johnson’s quarterback in Detroit, Jared Goff.

Still, let’s stay excited. Williams is eager to learn and with Johnson as his mentor.

“We’re here for the next 15 years together,” Williams said.

Excitement? Sure, but delusion? Blame training camp.